1. Aim: How does nitrogen & phosphorus get recycled?
DO NOW:
What is a cycle?.
Do you recycle your empty soda cans? If so, why do you do it?
Make a connection between everyday recycling with the cycles that we are learning about.

2. Importance of Nitrogen
A lot of nitrogen is found in the atmosphere
Nitrogen is important to plants for the production of proteins
Plants are able to use nitrates, nitrogen compounds present in soil, to make protein
Herbivores get their nitrogen from eating plants
Carnivores get their nitrogen from eating animals
Animals use nitrogen to make protein too!

3. Nitrogen Recycling Excretion returns nitrogen to land or water
Decomposition returns nitrogen to soil
Bacteria in soil can return nitrogen in soil to atmosphere
Lightening bolts change nitrogen gas in the atmosphere to nitrates in soil for plants

4. Nitrogen as Limiting Factor
If too little nitrogen is present, plants won’t be able to grow as well, so in this case, nitrogen will act as a limiting factor for plant growth

5. Nitrogen Cycle Video

6. Nitrogen Cycle Diagram

7. Nitrogen Cycle Diagram

8. Importance of Phosphorus
Important to both plants & animals for growth & development
DNA & ATP contain phosphorus

9. Recycling of Phosphorus
Phosphates, or phosphorus-containing compounds, are present in soil & plants use them
Consumers obtain their phosphorus from feeding
Decomposition recycles phosphorus back to soil
Weathering & erosion of phosphorus-containing rocks add to the amount of phosphorus in the cycle

10. Phosphorus as Limiting Factor
Since there isn’t a large amount of usable phosphates present in water or soil, too little phosphorus can limit the growth of producers!

11. Phosphorus Cycle Diagram

12. Phosphorus Cycle Video

13. Real-World Connection!

14. Homework On loose-leaf, answer the following questions:
1. Describe how nitrogen moves through both the living and non-living components of an ecosystem.
2. Describe how phosphorus moves through both the living and non-living components of an ecosystem.